Heel



April 14, 1942. J". A. MASEL TER 2,279,891

HEEL

Filed Jan. 18, 1940 "mu-mm 7 59 :23

Jie .JZaaeZfer iy W flifarizey Patented Apr. 14, 1942 HEEL John A. Maselter, Chicago, Ill. Application January 18, 1940, Serial No. 314,395

3 Claims.

The invention relates to cushion heels.

It is an object of the invention to provide a heel of the character described, which has greater wear resisting properties than any known heel.

A further object constitutes the provision of a heel with a wearing portion conducive to preventing running down of the heel at the edge so as to prolong the life of the heel.

Another object constitutes the provision of a 1 heel having a wearing surface which accommodates the stepping ofi and subsequent walking, whereby the heel proper is relieved from wear until the wearing surface is worn down.

A still further object constitutes the provision l of a heel which possesses a high degree of resiliency so as to absorb shocks and jars incident to walking.

It is also an object to provide a heel which effectively prevents skidding by affording a large contact area with the ground and concurred suction effects.

A still further object constitutes the provision of a heel having a wearing surface which permits the stepping off and subsequent walking to be carried out on the principle of a rolling motion.

A still further object constitutes the provision of features of construction and arrangement tending to enhance the efficiency and utility of the improved heel.

With these and other important objects in view, which will become more apparent from a perusal of the invention, the latter comprises the means described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part thereof, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a heel constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side View.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the heel, and

Fig. 4 isa section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the several views in the drawing, the heel generally designated by It] comprises a resilient heel body I2 formed of rubber of such consistency as to be wear-resisting.

A series of nail receiving holes I I is provided in inwardly spaced relation to its periphery, the holes extending about to the center of the thickness of the heel and there enlarged in horizontal direction to receive washers I3. Upon the upper side of the heel body, and in inwardly spaced relation to its periphery, there is provided a circular Walled recess l4.

The tread surface of the heel body is provided with a series of circular ribs in concentric relation, the inner rib extending farthest below the tread surface and the outer ribs being of decreasing depth, the crests of the ribs being in a plane forming an angle with the tread surface which may vary between 18 and 20.

Attention is called to the fact that a person, when stepping off, holds the heel under an angle of 18 to 20 to a horizontal plane and, for this reason, the taper of the rib crest has been chosen accordingly.

The innermost rib l5 extends about one-quarter inch below the tread surface of the heel and the next adjacent circular ribs I6, I! and 3 are equidistant and concentric to rib I 5 but, as stated before, decrease in depth so that a wearing surface is produced, which extends in two planes, one defined by the crests of the ribs l5, H5, [1 and I8, and serving during stepping off, and the other plane defined by the crest of the inner rib I5.

It is evident that the ribs form a Wearing structure superposed on the heel and only after they are worn down will the heel body proper be subjected to wear. Thus, the running down of the edge of a heel is effectively prevented and, in addition, the spaced ribs provide resiliency and shock absorbing properties incident to pneumatic heels.

The ribs l5 and [6 are connected by transverse webs l9 and 20. The circular ribs I6 and I! are connected by five radial web-like projections 2|, whereas the ribs l1 and I3 areconnected by a comparatively large number of web projections 22 extending radially from the common center of the circular ribs.

The connections afforded between the circular ribs enhance the ground engaging area of the heel and serve to prevent slipping as well as define suction cups to cause better adherence of the heel to the ground.

While the drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention, changes and alterations may be readily made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I, therefore, do not limit myself to the details of construction and arrangement, as shown,

but wish to include all variations and modifica-' tions constituting departures, within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A heel including a body portion, a plurality of circular ribs extending below the tread surface, the crests of said ribs being in a plane at 3. A bottom member for shoes, including a body portion, a plurality of curved ribs in concentric arrangement extending below the wearing surface of said bottom member, the crests of said'ribs being in a plane at an acute angle to said wearing surface, and radially extending means connecting adjacent ribs.

JOHN A. MASELTER. 

